Anchor experts: How much chain to add?
DZ
Member Posts: 55 ✭✭
Our 246 BR came with a Danforth anchor that's about as big as will fit in the anchor locker, but it's attached to braided nylon line only, no chain rode. It holds ok in dead calm, but sometimes has trouble in current or high wind, so I want to add some chain and get new line while I'm at it.
We anchor in a silty bottom river, generally in just 6- to 12-feet of water. How much chain should we add? Would 6- to 8-feet of 1/4" chain, and about 80' of 3/8" braided nylon be enough? To me, 1/4" sounded on the small side, though I read somewhere that would be about right, but there's a lot of conflicting information out there. Then again, it is chain, not line, so maybe 1/4" is pretty strong.
Thanks for any help!
Comments
My boat is about 1k lbs more than yours, and I changed to a 15lb galvanized Danforth that BARELY fit into the anchor locker, but it sets and HOLDS immediately and it hasnt drug once even in a storm. The old anchor is relegated to stern anchor, and even then its pretty useless.
Old anchor: http://www.tohatsu.us/index.php?main_page=product_marine_info&products_id=211934
New anchor: http://www.reddenmarine.com/danforth-94013-s920-standard-anchor-14-lb.html
A lot of guys who anchor out swear by an old school aluminum Fortress Danforth because it's light and stows easily(and it's a fine anchor). My take is that it can't just be about how easy it is to handle but almost 100% about whether it'll hold when you're in a tight spot.. like bad weather or a crowed anchorage.
Here's a roll bar anchor that should set as well/better than a Rocna, can be broken down and stowed and is FAR less expensive and actually available at Frikkin Wally World?? Go figure.
(HERE'S THE WW MANTUS ANCHOR LINK)
(AMAZON FEEDBACK FOR MANTUS)
High quality shackles that are safety wired and 15' of med heavy chain to keep the shank on the bottom and you'll have something that might save your life some day. At least it'd be one less thing to worry about.
Good luck and safe anchoring, Mike
a dude who pulls up to the same sand bar my group of friends uses decided a 'B' double 'E' double 'R' U.N. was in order last summer... he didn't want to lose his anchorage on the bar, and figured leaving his anchor planted on the beach was a good way to keep it.. off he goes.. he loses power near the (Bogue) inlet, and the tide is pulling hard toward the washing machine.... he ended up in the washer before he could be snatched up by a helping hand.. that helping hand was SeaTow (who was happening by).. He didn't have an agreement/contract in place with them before hand.. that beer run cost him about $900... an anchor costs about $50.. a parking spot on the beach is free..
if you lose power in a tidal shoot, anchors are your friend.. so is a cell phone or a radio, with friends nearby.. all of which cost less than nine benji's, even when combined...and.. are a whole lot less dramatic.. that washing machine has eaten several boats over the years..
We also have a 246BR and the Danforth type anchor is ok for mud & sand bottoms, but completely worthless on rocky bottoms. I will probably add a claw type anchor to the on board gear. West Marine has an excellent section on anchor selection, etc. Bottom type is more of a factor in determining anchor style/size, and as others have indicated, having more than one anchor aboard is sensible.
My very first time out on our just purchased 24'er, engine stalled and we started drifting. Pretty dumb, we didn't know what to do. That was 14 years ago and since then we always carry at least 2 anchors. On our current boat we have three anchors, the delta plow and two danforths. I've held more than a dozen boats (half same size as mine) for daytime raftups on my single anchor. Of course it's a bear to pul out when leaving.
You never know when a quick storm may sneek up on you. Most people that have rafted with me know that I am very particular about setting my anchor and having a good amount of rhode set.
ok, to the topic, I'd go with 15 feet of chain & at least 100' feet of line added.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
Dave
2002 Captiva 212, 5.0 220 hp, Alpha 1, 1.62 gears
Moon Township, PA - boating in the Ohio River
Another interesting anchor I might try this year is the Mantus. Looks like a nice option for a storm//overnight anchor, and it is able to be disassembled for storage, which for me is nice because I wont need it every time I anchor.
PC BYC, Holland, MI
I think in general the rule of thumb for chain is to have your boat's length, and then enough rope for a 10:1 scope for the deepest spot you will anchor.
One of the few advantages of being on shallow Lake St Clair is I only need to carry 200' total, since the lakes deepest spot is only about 20' and averages maybe 7' deep.